C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000280
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR AND NEA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2018
TAGS: PRELPINRLGLH IS
SUBJECT: RAFI EITAN VISIT TO LATVIA/LITHUANIA - REQUEST FOR
GUIDANCE
REF: OHI/POST E-MAILS
Classified By: Ambassador Charles W. Larson, Jr. Reason: 1.4 (d)
Â¶1. (U) This is a joint message from Embassies Riga and
Vilnius. This is an action request. Please see para 3.
Â¶2. (C) We understand that Israeli government minister Rafi
Eitan will visit Latvia and Lithuania the week of May 26 to
press the two governments to do more on restitution issues
related to Holocaust-era property seizures in both countries.
We also understand that Eitan may seek meetings with
Ambassadors Cloud and Larson or other embassy officials and
that embassy personnel may be invited to receptions and other
representational/social events in conjunction with the visit.
We note that the Israeli embassy here (the Israeli embassy
in Riga covers both countries) has generally taken a hands
off approach to the restitution issue, while our embassies
have been much more active.
Â¶3. (C) Action request: Please provide front channel guidance
on what response we should give to a request for a meeting
between Eitan and either US Ambassador (or other member of
the mission staff) as well as how we should respond to
invitations to representational events in his honor.
LARSON